der Berliner

We have managed to go down to the levels of Ross County and Dundee within a week, the manager has IMHO fully lost the plot with his selections and substitutions. Goldson and Souttar "playing" the creative part, Lundstram and the aforementioned playing triangles in our half, and Silva and Cantwell getting hooked for the Dowells and Lawrences, while Tavernier is playing in the middle of the park, or wherever he likes. There is every chance Hearts will send us packing at the weekend, if we play anywhere near like today. Season blown within a week. Some feet.

So what do we require then? Today gang was shocking bar Butland, including Clement.

We played better loosing 4 or 5 against the Scum. This 2nd half was atrocious, no matter if we grab a winner. Same trash SG's side served up after the turn of the year quite a few times.

Now, if you go back and do check his stats, why another mistake? BTW, this was not about goal and assist contribution, but the spark and energy he brings to the game, and his physicality. If you want Borna's instead, so be it. I wouldn't put out as many defenders against Dundee.

Dundee is playing rather open, which should suit us. But, aside from Butland, Goldson, Souttar, Sima and Roofe, you have to guess where anyone is playing. What we end up is no cohesion as anyone else is running about (has Tavernier actually been on his wing for more than 5 mins?) and we wait for something coming off somehow. Dundee's players going down like flies and Robertson playing a Robertson blinder ain't helping either. I'm pretty sure we will only change in position ... hoping for the best.

Wrong, my dear friend.

And at the chap you quoted. Go check the stats of Wright. He has almost played as many games as left-winger like he did on the right (only due to lack of options thanks to our previous managers). The line-up is called 3-4-3 and if you'd rather want Borna in left midfield, so be it.

It is Dundee, away or not, we should stop being conservative, not least if players chosen do not contribute to the team (like Dowell and Lundstram) in a way you would expect. We're stuck with Goldson and Souttar for tonight, Tavernier is seemingly undroppable, and the left flank will be Borna's again - as we will have a 4-man defence. I'd send Sterling out as DM (and nothing else, unless opportunity arrives. Raskin in front of him, so we have some creative player in a deeper role. One who is forward thinking, and willing to have a shot. Cantwell, Silva and Sima behind Dessers, to complete the typical 4-2-3-1. I'd rather test a more attack-minded line up, with a sort of three-man main defence. Sterling playing the cleaner in front of the centre-halfs, covering either side if necessary. Wright instead of Borna, as a left midfielder with the job to track back (which he does anyway), Tavernier (for lack of options and his status) doing the same on the right. Raskin and Cantwell the creative department (with order to track back if need be), Silva, Dessers and Sima as a front three. Butland Goldson - Souttar Sterling Tavernier - Raskin - Cantwell - Wright Sima - Dessers - Silva

Sorry, but that argument falls flat on its face if one checks e.g. Ridvan's stats ... aside from what I said elsewhere: getting a dead leg is somewhat different to having your ankle broken, ligaments torn, or hamstring strain (which alone can have various implications and levels of seriousness).

Top of the table win ...

Much like Helander is Swedish is for Prodan? Really, these silly remarks about people being unfortunate with illness and injury are utterly sad.

My cynical self just noted that Tav contributed to us conceding 6 goals in the last two games, Ridvan to none. As for injuries and games missed, such a lame and heinous argument. Like every injury is the same. Starting slots ... is it up to the player alone to be selected? Borna had decent runs while Ridvan was fit, whereas Tavernier never had one player to challenge him for his slot. We were lucky that he never had his ankle twisted, knee ligaments torn etc.. It is you who don't give Jack and Roofe no leniency, it seems. For some players, your blame game looks rather simple, for others, you restrain yourself quite a bit. Obviously, I suspect you will get the mirror out rather quickly ...

I want a defender to defend. Everything else is a bonus, but his job remains the same. If that job is not up to scratch, he will be questioned, be it Tav, or Borna, or your prime target Ridvan. Which is ridiculous, IMHO, saying his not up for it because he is injured. Tav's better because he played through most of the dross we've been served then? Ach well. I can't see Clement changing the formation or some players ... so we can but hope that those given the jersey will pull us through.

How many goals conceded was Tav in these last 10 days? I have no problem if he was meant to be our right winger, or midfielder, but I like defenders defending. He will be one of the greatest ever right-backs of this club, rule the stats for decades to come. All fine and well. His goals tally without penalties will would make any right winger proud, likewise his assists. Now go And check how many trophies he has won in his 9 years with the club. 3 major ones. Just to get grounded a little. Many people got hooked, drawn, and quartered by playing similar football as Tav, but failing to clock up penalty goals or assists - more often than not his letters of indulgence. I saw you advocating the sale of Ridvan above. He's one of the brightest sparks of late, yet you want him shifted? I am rather content to agree to disagree with you about both Tav and Ridvan.

Remember that they stumbled during the 55 season too. While we did our part fairly well, they fell apart after the turn of the year like we did under SG et al a few times. IMHO, our main problem remains a) converting chances created and b) conceding far too many goals compared to the chances the opposition creates. It has been our downfall since the return to the top flight, and we stubbornly resist changing the tactics that lead to this, as well as keep playing players who are not up for this. Said it before and say it again: when fit, Souttar and Balogun are our best defenders at the club. Mainly because they can defend, see danger in advance, and do the simply things. Goldson and Tav switch off far too regularly in when it comes to their defensive duties. If we like to play the WINGback game, we essentially need one DM to cover the area vacated. Instead, we de facto play two (Sunday it was Dowell and Lundstram), yet both wander out of position far too regularly (like yesterday) and time and again, we are rolled over in a quick counter-attack. You obviously want the DMs/CMs/whatever you call them to bolster the attack, yet Lundstram was harmless in that role (again), so should have stayed back. Dowell tried, but has yet to cope with the robust defensive style we face - same with Lawrence, more often than not. Our midfield was effectively a man or two down - again. That left all driving in the hands of our centre-halfs (again), or the invention of a Cantwell, who was chasing people all over the place. Silva got no service and hooking him was truly shocking, like it was in the OF game. Get Sterling on for Dowell, make it a 3-at-the-back, Lundstram (for lack of options) in front of them and let the other 6 attack like there is no tomorrow. At least 2 strikers with those. It was Ross County, it will be Dundee ... all packed defences and anti-football, and we continue to chisel at that wall instead of using the sledgehammer we have ready. You see Cantwell, Ridvan, Silva, Raskin, even Wright, all players "thinking forward". That should be the way ahead. The current crew has far too many people not of that ilk, spraying passes backwards or sideways, running five yards before releasing the ball 8and thus telegraphing their intent), even if the clock is ticking down. Thank's for the contribution so far. But we need to move on.

Any striker - which is the norm at every other club - could have taken any of Tav's penalties. In any case, no matter the credit he has, every game requires that he shows up and if he doesn't, critique will come his way. What did he do today bar converting a penalty that didn't mean anything?

It's games like these where you utilize the squad and probably try something different. It was going to be a fight, so Wright, Sterling, McCausland could have been a choice. Likewise, 4-2-3-1 again didn't really work, and we even subbed Silva again for naught, who was given no service whatsoever. He could easily have kept his place. There was no creativity chap in the middle who played e.g. the Davis role, whatever Dowell tried, it didn't work. And our defenders keep playing triangles at the back with Lundstram will give me nightmares for years to come ... even when time was ticking out. the main point of bother is that we have seen this time and time again .... please Philllipe, wield the axe.

To think we gave Goldson another long contract last summer ...

The odd assist aand penalty papered over many a mediocre performance like today. Simple fact.

Tavernier's letter of indulgence for another sub-standard performance ...

I simply assume that he assumed that his veterans keep their levels and the new additions will gain vital game time against low-key opposition ... ... and now he's a good picture of what needs to happen in the summer.

How these guys manage to play triangles at the centre-circle will forever be a mystery to me.

As soon as I wrote that, I had that gut feeling that we will manage to blow this. Can we simply replace our complete defence bar Souttar? If they can't handle the likes of Ross time and again, they are just past it.

A wise Gersnetter once wrote: Work beats quality if quality does not work.

One more game where we managed to adapt to the playing style of the opposition better than playing what we are capable of. As soon as Goldson and Souttar are start "running" the game, you know something is wrong. I would expect Lundstram and Dowell are there for the creativity from the deep areas, but all they do is giving the ball back to the CHs. Borna is anonymous, as is Tav. Silva has hardly seen the ball, Sima, Cantwell and Dessers trying. Clement needs to kick some butts, this drop in performance levels simply can't happen time and again.